Fire danger causes school closures

Schools in the West Coast and Lower Eyre Peninsula fire ban districts will be closed on Thursday due to the extreme fire danger.

The Education Department says it is the first time schools have been closed in South Australia because of a fire risk.

It says parents who are unsure whether their children are affected should contact their school.

Jan Andrews from the Education Department says the decision to close 37 schools was made in consultation with the Country Fire Service and the weather bureau.

"I don't think anybody would argue in the light of recent tragic events in Victoria or even on the Eyre Peninsula late last year or the Eyre Peninsula fires, that we are taking extra precautions because of the extremely changing circumstances," she said.

"The decision is made on the basis of the fire rating, the severity of the fire rating.

"We know that the most dangerous time is when children are travelling in school buses or their mums and dads are driving them to school, that tends to happen on the home route mid-afternoon which I believe is one of the highest danger risk points."